Lamp for Vehicle

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0067962 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 24, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

The present disclosure relates to a lamp for a vehicle.

Recently, with the increasing demand for entertainment functions in addition to transportation functions required for vehicles, there has been a growing need for lamps mounted in the vehicles to have additional functions in addition to simple lighting functions. For example, recently, a lamp for a vehicle has additionally adopted a function capable of performing communication with the outside.

In the related art, the lamp for a vehicle performs the function of communication with the outside by means of visual information such as lighting images or light distribution patterns of the lamp for a vehicle. Meanwhile, the methods of performing the function of communication with the outside also include a method using auditory information, such as sounds, in addition to the method using visual information. However, because the lamp for a vehicle in the related art adopts a watertight structure to prevent moisture from accumulating in the lamp for a vehicle, it is difficult to mount a speaker, which is configured to output a sound, in the lamp for a vehicle.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In a general aspect, here is provided a lamp for a vehicle including a lamp housing part configured to accommodate a light source in an internal lamp housing part space defined therein, an outer lens part coupled to a first side of the lamp housing part and configured to cover the internal lamp housing part space, and a vibration part fixed to the lamp housing part, the vibration part including a first module fixed to the first side of the lamp housing part and a second module configured to face the first module, the first module including a first magnet and a first magnet fixing portion to which the first magnet is fixed, the second module including a second magnet configured to face the first magnet, a second magnet fixing portion configured to accommodate the second magnet, and a coil member provided at one side of the second magnet and accommodated in the second magnet fixing portion, and the first magnet fixing portion being fixed to the lamp housing part.

A through-hole may be formed in the second magnet and a rib region may be provided on the second magnet fixing portion, the rib region being configured to protrude so as to be inserted into the through-hole of the second magnet.

The first magnet fixing portion may include a first module sidewall region configured to protrude from the lamp housing part and configured to define a first magnet accommodation space therein configured to accommodate the first magnet, the second magnet fixing portion may include a second module sidewall region configured to extend toward the first magnet fixing portion, a first screw thread region may be formed in the first module sidewall region, a second screw thread region may be formed in the second module sidewall region, and the first screw thread region and the second screw thread region may be screw-coupled to each other.

The first magnet fixing portion may include a first protruding coupling region configured to protrude outward from an outer peripheral surface of the first module sidewall region, the second magnet fixing portion may include a second protruding coupling region configured to protrude toward the first magnet fixing portion from the second module sidewall region, and the first protruding coupling region may be fixedly coupled to the second protruding coupling region.

A recessed section having a recessed shape may be formed in the second protruding coupling region, and at least a part of the first protruding coupling region is inserted into the recessed section.

The first screw thread region may be provided as a plurality of first screw thread regions provided along a periphery of the first module sidewall region, the plurality of first screw thread regions being spaced apart from one another, the second screw thread region may be provided as a plurality of second screw thread regions provided along a periphery of the second module sidewall region, the plurality of second screw thread regions being spaced apart from one another, and the plurality of first screw thread regions and the plurality of second screw thread regions may be respectively screw-coupled to one another.

A smooth curved surface region may be formed in a first section of the first module sidewall region between a first respective pair of adjacent first screw thread regions and a smooth curved surface region may be formed in a second section of the second module sidewall region between a second respective pair of adjacent second screw thread regions.

The second module may include a connection member, the connection member being electrically connected to the coil member, an insertion hole is formed in the second magnet fixing portion, and a part of the connection member may be configured to pass through the insertion hole.

The insertion hole may be formed in a first region of the second magnet fixing portion spaced apart from the first module in a first direction in which the first magnet faces the second magnet.

The second magnet fixing portion may include a first frame region configured to accommodate the second magnet and the coil member, the first frame region being configured to be opened toward the first module and a second frame region configured to surround the first frame region and configured to fix the first frame region to the second frame region, and a third section of the second frame region to which the first frame region is fixed may have a shape configured to protrude toward the first module further than a peripheral section of the third section to which the first frame region is fixed.

The second module sidewall region may be provided in the second frame region and the first frame region may be configured to protrude toward the first module further than the second module sidewall region.

The lamp may include a heat sink provided at one side of the lamp housing part, and a first side of the second module may be supported by the heat sink.

In a general aspect, here is provided a lamp for a vehicle including a lamp housing part configured to accommodate a light source in an internal lamp housing part space defined therein, an outer lens part coupled to a first side of the lamp housing part and configured to cover the internal lamp housing part space, and a vibration part fixed to the outer lens part, the vibration part including a first module fixed to the first side of the lamp housing part, and a second module configured to face the first module, the first module including a first magnet, and a first magnet fixing portion to which the first magnet is fixed, the second module including a second magnet configured to face the first magnet, a second magnet fixing portion configured to accommodate the second magnet, and a coil member provided at one side of the second magnet and accommodated in the second magnet fixing portion, and the first magnet fixing portion is fixed to the outer lens part.

The lamp may include a heat sink provided at one side of the lamp housing part, and a first side of the second module may be supported by the heat sink.

One side of the first module may be fixed to one of an upper and a lower region of an inner surface of the outer lens part that extends in a direction intersecting an upward/downward direction, and one side of the second module may be fixed to an end of a region of the heat sink that protrudes upward or downward.

A first side of the first module may be fixed to a first region of an inner surface of the outer lens part that extends in a direction intersecting a horizontal direction, and a first side of the second module may be fixed to an end of a region of the heat sink that protrudes in the horizontal direction.

The first magnet fixing portion may include a first module sidewall region configured to protrude from the outer lens part and configured to define a first magnet accommodation space therein configured to accommodate the first magnet, the second magnet fixing portion may include a second module sidewall region configured to extend toward the first magnet fixing portion, a first screw thread region may be formed in the first module sidewall region, a second screw thread region may be formed in the second module sidewall region, and the first screw thread region and the second screw thread region may be screw-coupled to each other.

The first magnet fixing portion may include a first protruding coupling region configured to protrude outward from an outer peripheral surface of the first module sidewall region, the second magnet fixing portion may include a second protruding coupling region configured to protrude toward the first magnet fixing portion from the second module sidewall region, and the first protruding coupling region may be fixedly coupled to the second protruding coupling region.

The first screw thread region may be provided as a plurality of first screw thread regions provided along a periphery of the first module sidewall region, the plurality of first screw thread regions being spaced apart from one another, the second screw thread region may be provided as a plurality of second screw thread regions provided along a periphery of the second module sidewall region, the plurality of second screw thread regions being spaced apart from one another, and the plurality of first screw thread regions and the plurality of second screw thread regions may be respectively screw-coupled to one another.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described or provided, the same, or like, drawing reference numerals may be understood to refer to the same, or like, elements, features, and structures. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application. For example, the sequences of operations described herein are merely examples, and are not limited to those set forth herein, but may be changed as will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order.

The features described herein may be embodied in different forms and are not to be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided merely to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein that will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be clear with reference to embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein but will be implemented in various forms. The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided so that the present disclosure is completely disclosed, and a person with ordinary skill in the art can fully understand the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure will be defined only by the scope of the appended claims. Meanwhile, the terms used in the present specification are for explaining the embodiments, not for limiting the present disclosure.

Terms, such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the like, may be used herein to describe components. Each of these terminologies is not used to define an essence, order or sequence of a corresponding component but used merely to distinguish the corresponding component from other component(s). For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly the second component may also be referred to as the first component.

Throughout the specification, when a component is described as being “connected to,” or “coupled to” another component, it may be directly “connected to,” or “coupled to” the other component, or there may be one or more other components intervening therebetween. In contrast, when an element is described as being “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, there can be no other elements intervening therebetween.

In a description of the embodiment, in a case in which any one element is described as being formed on or under another element, such a description includes both a case in which the two elements are formed in direct contact with each other and a case in which the two elements are in indirect contact with each other with one or more other elements interposed between the two elements. In addition, when one element is described as being formed on or under another element, such a description may include a case in which the one element is formed at an upper side or a lower side with respect to another element.

The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises/comprising” and/or “includes/including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Hereinafter, a lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

is a view schematically illustrating a cross-sectional structure of a vibration part provided in a lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure, andis a view illustrating a state in which a first module and a second module of the vibration part illustrated inare spaced apart from each other.is a detailed view illustrating a cross-sectional structure of the vibration part provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, andis an enlarged view illustrating a rib region formed on a second magnet fixing portion of the second module provided in the vibration part in.is a view illustrating a state in which a through-hole corresponding to the rib region formed on the second magnet fixing portion is formed in a second magnet, andis a view illustrating a state in which the vibration part is fixed to a lamp housing part in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.is an enlarged view of the vibration part in, andis a view illustrating a state in which the first module and the second module of the vibration part illustrated inare separated.is a view illustrating a state in which the vibration part is fixed to an outer lens part in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, andis a view illustrating a state in which the first module and the second module of the vibration part inare separated.

With reference to, a lampfor a vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘lamp’) according to the present disclosure may include a lamp housing parthaving an internal space configured to accommodate a light source, and an outer lens partcoupled to one side of the lamp housing partand configured to cover the internal space. More specifically, the outer lens partmay be fixedly coupled to the lamp housing part. The light emitted from the light source may propagate to the outside through the outer lens part, such that predetermined light distribution patterns and lighting images may be formed.

Meanwhile, according to the present disclosure, the lampmay not only form predetermined light distribution patterns and lighting images, like the lamp in the related art, but also generate a sound. More specifically, the lampaccording to the present disclosure may output a sound by vibrating the lamp housing partor the outer lens part.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the lampaccording to the present disclosure may include a vibration partfixed to the lamp housing partor the outer lens part. The vibration partmay be configured to output a sound by vibrating the lamp housing partor the outer lens part.illustrate states in which the vibration partis fixed to the lamp housing part, andillustrate states in which the vibration partis fixed to the outer lens part. The vibration partmay be accommodated in the internal space formed in the lamp housing part.

Meanwhile, with reference to, the vibration partmay have a structure in which a plurality of modules are coupled. More specifically, the vibration partmay include a first module, and a second moduleprovided to face the first module. With reference to, the first modulemay be fixed to one side of the lamp housing partor the outer lens part, and the second modulemay be coupled to the first module. That is, according to the present disclosure, as described below, the second modulemay be relatively fixed to the lamp housing partor the outer lens partby means of the first module.

With reference back to, the first modulemay include a first magnet. The first magnetmay be a permanent magnet. In addition, the second modulemay include a second magnetprovided to face the first magnet. The second magnetmay be a permanent magnet. More particularly, the first magnetand the second magnetmay be disposed to apply a repulsive force therebetween. Meanwhile, the second modulemay further include a second magnet fixing portionconfigured to accommodate the second magnet, and a coil memberprovided at one side of the second magnetand accommodated in the second magnet fixing portion. For example, as illustrated in, the coil membermay be provided to surround an outer periphery of the second magnet. According to the present disclosure, at ordinary times, a constant interval between the first moduleand the second moduleis maintained by the repulsive force between the first magnetand the second magnet. In case that an electric current is supplied to the coil member, a force applied between the first moduleand the second moduleis changed over time by an electromagnetic force, such that the first modulevibrates. Therefore, as the lamp housing partor the outer lens part, to which the first moduleis fixed, vibrates, a sound may be outputted from the lamp.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in, the first modulemay further include a first magnet fixing portionto which the first magnetis fixed. For example, the first magnet fixing portionmay have an approximately circular plate shape. In this case, as illustrated in, according to the present disclosure, the first magnet fixing portionmay be bonded to the lamp housing partor the outer lens part. For example, the first magnet fixing portionmay be fixedly coupled to the lamp housing partor the outer lens partby means of a bonding agent or an adhesive tape. Hereinafter, a structure in which the second moduleof the vibration partis fixed to the lamp housing partor the outer lens partwill be described in detail.

With reference to, a through-holemay be formed in the second magnetof the second module. A rib regionmay be provided on the second magnet fixing portionof the second moduleand protrude so as to be inserted into the through-holeformed in the second magnet. The through-holeand the rib regionmay be configured to dispose the second magnetat an exact position by aligning relative positions between the second magnetand the second magnet fixing portion. More particularly, a size of the rib regionmay correspond to a size of the through-hole

With reference to, the first magnet fixing portionof the first modulemay include a first module sidewall regionprotruding from the lamp housing partor the outer lens partand configured to define a space configured to accommodate the first magnet.illustrate states in which the first module sidewall regionprotrudes from the lamp housing part.illustrate states in which the first module sidewall regionprotrudes from the outer lens part.

Meanwhile, the second magnet fixing portionmay have a configuration corresponding to the first module sidewall region. More specifically, the second magnet fixing portionmay include a second module sidewall regionextending toward the first magnet fixing portion.

In this case, according to the present disclosure, a first screw thread region-may be formed in the first module sidewall region, a second screw thread regionmay be formed in the second module sidewall region, and the first screw thread region-and the second screw thread regionmay be screw-coupled to each other. That is, according to the present disclosure, the first moduleand the second modulemay be fixedly coupled by being screw-coupled to each other.illustrate states in which the first moduleand the second moduleare screw-coupled to each other, such that the vibration partis fixedly coupled to the lamp housing part.illustrate states in which the first moduleand the second moduleare screw-coupled to each other, such that the vibration partis fixedly coupled to the outer lens part. In addition, for example,illustrate states in which the first screw thread region-is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the first module sidewall region, and the second screw thread regionis formed on an inner peripheral surface of the second module sidewall region

With continued reference to, the first magnet fixing portionmay further include first protruding coupling regionsprotruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the first module sidewall region, and the second magnet fixing portionmay further include second protruding coupling regionsprotruding toward the first magnet fixing portionfrom the second module sidewall region. In this case, the first protruding coupling regionmay be fixedly coupled to the second protruding coupling region. For example, as illustrated in, a recessed section-having a recessed shape may be formed in the second protruding coupling region, and at least a part of the first protruding coupling regionmay be inserted into the recessed section-. In case that the first protruding coupling regionand the second protruding coupling regionare fixedly coupled to each other as described above, the first moduleand the second modulemay be rotated relative to each other after the first moduleand the second moduleare screw-coupled to each other, thereby effectively preventing the screw coupling from being loosened. For example,illustrate states in which the recessed section-has a hole shape. It may be understood that a partial region of the second protruding coupling regionhas an opened shape, and a part of the first protruding coupling regionis fitted into the opened region.

is a view for explaining another example of the vibration part provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure and illustrates the first magnet fixing portion of the first module, andis a view for explaining another example of the vibration part provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure and illustrates the second magnet fixing portion of the second module and the first module.

With reference to, the first screw thread region-and the second screw thread regionmay be discontinuously formed on inner peripheral surfaces or outer peripheral surfaces of the first module sidewall regionand the second module sidewall region. More specifically, as illustrated in, the plurality of first screw thread regions-may be provided along the peripheral surface (e.g., the outer peripheral surface) of the first module sidewall regionand spaced apart from one another, and the plurality of second screw thread regionsmay be provided along the peripheral surface (e.g., the inner peripheral surface) of the second module sidewall regionand spaced apart from one another. In this case, the plurality of first screw thread regions-and the plurality of second screw thread regionsmay be screw-coupled to one another in a one-to-one manner. In case that the plurality of first screw thread regions-and the plurality of second screw thread regionsare provided along the peripheral surfaces and spaced apart from one another as described above, the first protruding coupling regionmay be provided in a region between the two first screw thread regions-spaced apart from each other, and the second protruding coupling regionmay be provided in a region between the two second screw thread regionsspaced apart from each other. More particularly, during the process in which the screw coupling is performed, the screw coupling may be completed before the first screw thread region-faces another second screw thread regionafter the first screw thread region-passes over one second screw thread region. In this case, it is possible to minimize a degree to which the first protruding coupling regionand the second protruding coupling regioninterfere with each other during the screw coupling process.

Meanwhile, with continued reference to, a smooth curved surface region may be formed in a section of the first module sidewall regionbetween two adjacent first screw thread regions-(i.e., of one or more adjacent pairs of the plurality of first screw thread regions-), and a smooth curved surface region may be formed in a space of the second module sidewall regionbetween two adjacent second screw thread regions(i.e., of one or more adjacent pairs of the plurality of second screw thread regions). In this case, the first screw thread region-and the second screw thread regionmay be smoothly screw-coupled to each other without interference.

is a view for explaining a connection member of the vibration part of the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure, andis a view for explaining the second magnet fixing portion of the vibration part illustrated in.

Meanwhile, with reference to, the second moduleof the vibration partmay further include a connection memberelectrically connected to the coil member. The connection membermay be configured to provide an electric current to the coil memberor receive an electrical signal from the coil member. For example, the connection membermay be a PCB or a wire with electrical conductivity.